Kothanodi (2015)

My search for a gets-under-your-skin-and-has-you-terrified-from-beginning-to-end horror movie from India finally comes to an end (for now). Kothanodi was such a unique and brilliant experience, I am afraid (pun intended) that I might not be able to do it justice with my words. 

I was most impressed by how seamlessly the film wove 4 different narratives into one in such a way that nothing and no one felt out of place. I was completely invested in the trajectories of all characters, so much so that for two hours, I never once even felt like checking my phone. Let that sink in. This is the kind of immersiveness I want while watching a horror/thriller movie, and I felt so satisfied when it ended (the ending was as creepy as the rest of it, which is my favourite part about horror movies) that I ended up having a good night's sleep after a very long time. Yes, judge me all you want, but I do love good horror stories that much. 

Even apart from its merits as a horror movie, there is so much to appreciate about Kothanodi. As a cinematic retelling of Assamese folktales, it holds a singular place in Indian cinema, and should honestly be viewed and discussed more. It made me want to read more Assamese literature, and also to watch more movies from the state. Each and every performance is so well executed and the cinematography is flawless. And now for my favourite part- the music. There is a reason why nothing in the world is as good as Indian cinema and that reason is our music. Amarnath Hazarika deserved an award for his excellent work here, along with all the other accolades that this film received.

In conclusion, regional Indian cinema supremacy- move ASIDE, Bollywood!

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